Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Bach

Harry Bicket leads Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus and a fine line-up of soloists in a performance that moves effortlessly between the human and eternal time lines of Bach's St John Passion.

A brooding and melancholy presentation of Bach’s masterpiece from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Mark Padmore. 

A rousing Dvořák Symphony no. 8 and that composer’s The Water Sprite filled out a highly satisfying performance.

An enjoyable and vivid performance representing music spanning three centuries of history

Contemporary Ballet is alive, thriving and pushing in Boston

Conductor JoAnn Falletta, violinist Alexi Kenney and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra offer up vibrant and vital interpretations of Boulanger, Mozart and Brahms. 

The latest concert in the LPO's “Changing Faces: Stravinsky’s Journeys” series focussed on storytelling of the symphonic kind. 

With Andris Nelsons about to debut as Kapellmeister at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, a collaboration with his Boston Symphony was inaugurated in style. 

To reach the mother lode of Bach's keyboard music, you have to listen to it on harpsichord, and today, no performer embodies that mother lode more than Mahan Esfahani.

Freire convinces in Bach, but soft attack and heavy pedal use make for flat renditions of romantic works.

Warsaw Philharmonic celebrates the 100th anniversary of Polish independence with performances of great local composers – Lutoslawski, Szymanowski and Szabelski – and Debussy’s La Mer for good measure.

James Ehnes, a violinist of remarkable elegance, was outstanding in Prokofiev's First Concerto infusing richness to the long, introspective melodic lines.

When Robert DeMaine fell ill, LA Phil got creative by rotating the soloist duties in Zimmermann’s Cello Concerto. 

Czech harpsichord legend Zuzana Růžičková would have turned 91 on 14 January, making it an ideal night for a tribute concert featuring one of her star pupils, Iranian-American harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani. As he noted in brief remarks sandwiched between rousing renditions of Bach, “When she died, I lost a great teacher. But this country lost part of its history.

Lars Vogt, Royal Nothern Sinfonia and Chorus and a strong quartet of soloists bring the angelic tidings of peace and goodwill in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

This season, the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya (OBC) is turning its eyes towards Bach, whilst at the same time programming the usual great symphonic repertoire, as well as contemporary composers. Here, Kazushi Ono gathered a Bach concerto (transcribed for violin), a rarely-performed work by Schumann and Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra.

Dunedin Consort’s band of virtuosi players, four Early music specialist soloists and just four ripieno singers gave a nimble and exquisitely focussed performance of the Christmas Oratorio simply bursting with enjoyment.

An early Christmas celebration in Budapest, with four of Bach's cantatas from his Christmas Oratorio.

Continuing a decades-long holiday season tradition, the SPCO presents five of Bach's six Brandenburg Concerti in performances brimming with energy and élan.

The Scottish Ensemble is joined by I Fagiolini in a Winter Chorale linking ancient and modern music for Advent and Christmas. 

Anna Teresa De Keersmaeker’s, Jean-Guihen Queyras’ and Rosas’ Mitten wir im Leben sind/Bach6Cellosuiten presented at HAU 1 is a raw but very sleek work on Bach’s milestone of Western music.

The Ulster Orchestra and Rosanne Philippens dazzle in Vaughan Williams and Sibelius under the baton of Jac van Steen.

Sakari Oramo led an inspired BBC Symphony Orchestra in cultured performances of Sibelius, while Lisa Batiashvili produced a monumental UK première of Anders Hillborg’s evocative Violin Concerto No.2.

The Thanksgiving weekend concert conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, also included a dramatic reading of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and Copland’s El Salón México.

Familiarity doesn't always breed contempt: Bach's famous Air proves the highlight of an enjoyable evening of Purcell, Bach and Pergolesi in the magnificent surroundings of Disney Hall.

In Autumn the cicadas are out in force at Wigmore Hall...

Yannick leads Philadelphia Orchestra on spiritual journey throug Bruckner's Eighth Symphony. 

For this program, Sir András Schiff chose only works belonging to composers for whom he feels a real affinity.

Bereft of its guiding light, the orchestra shows resiliency and promise with a familiar face at the podium.

Alexander Dmitriev and the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra paraded passionate and colourful Tchaikovsky, while the masterful Peter Donohoe gave a potent and intricate Rachmaninov.

Giltburg impresses with his warm sound and thoughtfulness in Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto while Martín and the NSO revel in Schoenberg's transcript of Brahms' Piano Quartet no. 1 

Gustavo Gimeno, making his Symphony Hall debut, impressed in a program opening with Ligeti's Concert Românesc.

In this second Mariinsky concert Kristóf Baráti was a fine but miscast soloist in Stravinsky’s violin concerto, with rich narrative pickings from Rimsky-Korsakov and his illustrious pupil.

What started with anomalies with the Hong Kong Phil ended in triumphant good cheer.

An infectious contemporary work by Sierra sits comfortably with Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. 

Emmanuel Pahud shows his fluting chops in a program accompanied by the popular and celebrated Australian Chamber Orchestra.

When a hurricane floods your symphony hall, and you have to scrap and replace programs according to new venues and limited rehearsal time – all with an aim to soothe a city in distress – what do you play?

Watching Twyla Tharp move now is a reminder of how much she has affected the landscape of dance during her lifetime.

Lars Vogt takes to the stage of Hall One at Sage Gateshead for some impromptu keyboard practice.

Andras Schiff returned to the Proms for a late night recital of JS Bach's Well Tempered Clavier, Book I. His execution was masterly and this master pianist's reputation as a standard bearer of this music was upheld beyond doubt.

A stuttering first half of Adams and Dvořák redeemed by a magical Mahler 1.

Several of Tokyo’s finest collaborate in successfully delivering a re-opening concert at Suntory Hall

A novel venue provided the unusual setting for an engaging and impressive performance by the Multi-Story Orchestr and Multi-Story Youth Choir of music by JS Bach, Kate Whitley and John Adams.

Mirga's approach to Beethoven's Fifth showed a flair for innovation, the highlight of a strong programme that also featured a virtuosic performance from Leila Josefowciz of Stravinsky's Violin Concerto.

Staggering performances from Esa-Pekka Salonen and Philharmonia in John Adams’s sonic journey, Naïve and Sentimental Music, and Marianne Crebassa exquisite in Ravel’s Shéhérazade.

Isabelle Faust joined the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin in finely honed performances of Bach violin concertos and a rarely performed version of an orchestral suite.

Three concerts over one day at the opening weekend of Bachfest Leipzig combined Bach’s music with that of composers from Rachmaninov to Sibelius, but nothing matches the unrivalled bliss of Bach’s own music performed with total conviction.

Berlin Philharmonic cellists combine with Turkish counterparts for a dazzling performance in Istanbul.

Visiting Russian players offer sophisticated Brahms and sensitive Elgar in Istanbul.

Víkingur Ólafsson’s recordings were already positive cues going in, but I must admit, his performance of the Goldbergs exceeded my wildest expectations.